Tobyhanna man gets 6-18 years for shooting teenage girl in the head

Thursday

Apr 24, 2014 at 4:50 PMApr 24, 2014 at 4:53 PM

ANDREW SCOTT

Dominique Smith of Tobyhanna dropped out of school after eighth grade and began getting into trouble with the law at age 13 in New York, prior to moving with his family to the Poconos, according to court records.

His family Thursday told Monroe County Court Judge Stephen Higgins it’s because Smith had no father figure or positive male mentors in his life to counter negative peer pressure while he was growing up.

“I know it looks on paper like Dominique is not a good kid, but I know his character, his heart, his goals and aspirations,” said Smith’s mother, Diane Williams.

“He has a lot of potential. He just needs a second chance.”

This was moments before Smith was sentenced to six to 18 years in state prison for shooting a teenage girl in the head after a failed drug deal in August 2012, when he was 17, in Coolbaugh Township.

He was charged with attempted murder, but later pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of aggravated assault in exchange for other charges being dismissed.

He said he never intended to kill anyone.

Full story will be in Friday's Pocono Record

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